District News: Week of 6/5/17

5/30/2017

District News: Week of 6/5/17

BULLDOG BRILLIANCE
High School Students to Present Historical Research at Annual Symposium

Seventeen students from Irvington High School will participate in the annual Peter K. Oley “Tomorrow’s Historians” Student Research Symposium on May 31 at 7 p.m. Throughout the event, which is co-hosted by the high school social studies department and the Irvington Historical Society, students will share findings from their historical research with local historians, community members and classmates.

“The event provides the students with the opportunity to share their research, to engage in a live discussion and debate with their peers and the community, and to apply their research to other fields outside of their research topic,” said social studies teacher Dr. Erik Weiselberg, who organized the event and will serve as moderator.

The students will discuss topics such as the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII and the attempt by the Allies to capture strategic bridges along the Rhine during Operation Market Garden. Other topics will explore the social and economic roots of the Salem Witch Trials to the historical emergence of transgenderism and feminism in the arts. Students will also discuss Edith Wilson's stewardship of the presidency, the influence of journalism on the Watergate scandal and on reporting of the war in Vietnam as well as Edward Snowden's expose of N.S.A. surveillance. The evening will also include an update from students working on a local history internship, including topics of the Battle of White Plains of 1776 and Cyrus W. Field's Ardsley.

“The symposium offers students an opportunity to demonstrate ‘historical thinking skills’ such as interpretation of source material, analyzing continuity and change over time, comparison within and across time periods and cultures, contextualization, argumentation and synthesis,” Dr. Weiselberg said. “In sum, students get a chance to become experts in their field and to participate in and create an academic community at the highest level. Plus, it is a great opportunity for personal growth and to highlight scholarly achievement.”

Dr. Weiselberg said the event is considered one of the highlights of the academic year. Members of the Irvington Historical Society, high school administration and social studies department as well as professional historians will provide remarks during the symposium and distribute awards to the students. History professors Dr. Neil Maher and Dr. Patricia Bonomi, who are also members of the Irvington Historical Society, will host the event.

The annual event honors the memory of Peter Oley who was an elementary school teacher and track coach in the Irvington Union Free School District for more than 30 years. He was also president of the Irvington Historical Society and the official historian of the Village of Irvington.

GIVING TREES
Donate through Friday, June 16th!

Please consider making a donation to our Giving Trees!

In collaboration with teachers, each principals carefully selected items that will enrich and enhance our children's educational experiences. We are asking you to help us fulfill each school's wish list so that our schools become even more exceptional.

All of the donations made to the Giving Tree will be used to fund as many of each school's wish list items as possible.

Click here to donate: https://irvington-ptsa-spring-luncheon-givingtree.cheddarup.com

PTSA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, June 13th

PTSA will be holding our last General Membership Meeting of the school year on June 13th, at 9am in the Multi-Purpose Room at Dows Lane

Agenda includes the election of officers for open Executive Committee positions.

CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATES

If you’ve changed your address or phone number in the last year, please contact staff at your child(ren)’s school(s) and let them know.

The PTSA uses contact information that the IUFSD provides for the PTSA directory, and we’d like it to be as accurate as possible.